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Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Good for America?

In March 2010, the US Congress passed HR 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and HR 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. President Barack Obama signed them both into law, along with Executive Order 13535 restricting federal funds from being used for abortion services. On Thursday June 28, 2012 the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the PPACA in a 5-4 ruling.

Proponents of the health care legislation have called it a "historic victory" and "landmark legislation" that reforms the US health care system by lowering health care costs, making health care more affordable, and protecting consumers from unfair insurance practices. They cite the Congressional Budget Office which reports that by 2021, it will reduce the nation's deficit by about $210 billion.

Opponents have called it a "socialist" and "unconstitutional" government takeover of the health care system that will increase the cost of health care, decrease the quality, and entrench a new entitlement. They say the law will increase the nation's deficit $340-$700 billion over the next decade. In 2011 and 2012 the House of Representatives voted 36 different times to repeal or replace Obamacare.

The individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance or face fines was repealed by Congress, signed by President Trump on Dec. 22, 2017, and takes effect beginning in 2019. The repeal won't directly affect most Americans since a vast majority of Americans receive health coverage through their employer or a public health program like Medicare, Medicaid, or military health services. Many of Obamacare's core elements remain in effect including: guaranteed coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, the individual health insurance exchanges, federal subsidies to help people pay for insurance premiums, and Medicaid expansion in the dozens of states that agreed to implement it. While those components of the Affordable Care Act remain controversial, the debate and this website will continue to help educate and foster critical thinking on Obamacare.

In March 2010, the US Congress passed HR 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and HR 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. President Barack Obama signed them both into law, along with Executive Order 13535 restricting federal funds from being used for abortion services. On Thursday June 28, 2012 the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the PPACA in a 5-4 ruling.

Proponents of the health care legislation have called it a "historic victory" and "landmark legislation" that reforms the US health care system by lowering health care costs, making health care more affordable, and protecting consumers from unfair insurance practices. They cite the Congressional Budget Office which reports that by 2021, it will reduce the nation's deficit by about $210 billion.

Opponents have called it a "socialist" and "unconstitutional" government takeover of the health care system that will increase the cost of health care, decrease the quality, and entrench a new entitlement. They say the law will increase the nation's deficit $340-$700 billion over the next decade. In 2011 and 2012 the House of Representatives voted 36 different times to repeal or replace Obamacare.

The individual mandate requiring people to have health insurance or face fines was repealed by Congress, signed by President Trump on Dec. 22, 2017, and takes effect beginning in 2019. The repeal won't directly affect most Americans since a vast majority of Americans receive health coverage through their employer or a public health program like Medicare, Medicaid, or military health services. Many of Obamacare's core elements remain in effect including: guaranteed coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, the individual health insurance exchanges, federal subsidies to help people pay for insurance premiums, and Medicaid expansion in the dozens of states that agreed to implement it. While those components of the Affordable Care Act remain controversial, the debate and this website will continue to help educate and foster critical thinking on Obamacare.